Return of the year? Tommy Paul saves 5 MPs, shocks Alejandro Tabilo | ATP Tour
Shanghai
Return of the year? Paul saves 5 MPs, shocking Tabilo
The American will next play either Machac or Vukic in Shanghai
October 06, 2024
Zhe Ji/Getty Images
Tommy Paul beat Alejandro Tabilo in three sets on Sunday evening to advance to Shanghai.
By ATP staff
Tommy Paul earned one of the best comeback awards of the season on Sunday in Shanghai.
Nineteenth seed Alejandro Tabilo led in the 11th 7-6(2), 5-1 and scored five points in his match at 5-2, but could not close out the match. Paul took full advantage, fighting for a 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory in two hours and 43 minutes to secure a place in the Round of 16 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Paul is SURVIVING 💪@TommyPaul1 came from being put down and saved 5 match points defeating Tabilo 6-7 7-6 6-2 😤@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/gwQrJxqJhz
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 6, 2024
Tabilo enjoyed the best season of his career and looks poised to continue his impressive streak against Paul. But the Chilean missed three of his match points and Paul hit another. On the last game point of the left, he put pressure on Paul by closing the net, but the American hit a passing shot to escape.
Paul won 12 of his last 15 games and converted four of his 13 break points according to Infosys ATP Stats to earn a showdown against 30-year-old Tomas Machac or qualifier Aleksandar Vukic.
With his win, Paul, 27, moved past Grigor Dimitrov into tenth place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, within 425 points of eighth-placed Novak Djokovic. Paul is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.
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Paul now leads Tabilo 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series and both of their meetings have come this year. The American also won 6-3, 6-4 on the grass at Queen’s Club.
